Barnes23

Honestly think it may be better for our season if we miss out on the EL in any case if we aren't able to progress to the last 16 of the CL. Probably an unpopular opinion, though.

I think it's quite difficult to assess from the outside exactly how the upcoming window will play out. I would be disinclined to pay much attention to the kinds of murmurings that are starting to emerge in the press. The GK situation is far from clear or easy to navigate, as outlined above. The form of Lascelles may mean that we are satisfied to wait until the summer for a CB signing. A midfielder to effectively take Tonali's squad place feels like a no-brainer but the emergence of Miley may prove to be a consideration for this window too, especially if we are/were looking primarily at short-term stopgaps like Phillips. A RW will surely be on the agenda for the coming windows, but finding the right player in January may be difficult, especially factoring in FFP constraints. And finding a third choice striker, who is happy to be a rotational option at this moment in time but still possesses the quality and attitude to make an impact when called upon and also to develop in that context, is far from straightforward . And that's assuming we are even looking at that position - hard to think of many top sides with 3 outright strikers to call upon. Potentially looking at a RW equivalent to Gordon who can also play as a forward, but that depends on exactly what kind of player Howe is looking to target for that side of the pitch, which I think will be a big indicator of what direction we may or may not be heading in tactically.

Pretty clear he's exhausted, like most of the rest of the team. Not sure why some would choose to view his last two performances outside of that context

Incredible to see some people falling for latterday Pards PR, even on this forum. Reputation management is pretty much the only thing he was ever good at. Any media appearances relating to NUFC are a vehicle for aggrandizing himself. He's delighted we're doing well because it is an opportunity for him to reinforce his association with a club that is on the ascendancy in a big way.

Palace 0-3 Liverpool Brighton 2-1 Burnley Man United 2-1 Bournemouth Sheff United 1-1 Brentford Wolves 2-1 Forest Villa 1-1 Arsenal Everton 2-2 Chelsea Fulham 2-2 West Ham Luton 1-2 Man City Spurs 2-1 Newcastle

Only real question for me regarding rotation recently (as our options are so limited) is the possibility of playing Krafth at RB for a game to give Trippier a rest. Last night could have been an opportunity to do it, although I completely get why Howe would be reluctant.

Wolves 2-1 Burnley Luton 0-3 Arsenal Brighton 2-1 Brentford Fulham 2-1 Forest Sheff United 0-3 Liverpool Palace 1-1 Bournemouth Villa 2-2 Man City Man United 1-1 Chelsea Everton 1-2 Newcastle Spurs 3-1 West Ham

We should be looking to do better than Ramsdale when the time comes to upgrade on Pope.

Even if we are able to go out and identify and recruit the ideal RW in the summer (no easy task at all, especially with FPP constraints), Almiron is too perfect a rotational option to consider dispensing with, imo. Unless perhaps the fee was really too good to turn down, which for me would be a hell of a lot more than £20m

Arsenal 2-1 Wolves Brentford 2-1 Luton Burnley 2-1 Sheff United Forest 2-1 Everton Newcastle 2-1 Man United Bournemouth 1-2 Villa Chelsea 2-2 Brighton Liverpool 3-0 Fulham West Ham 2-1 Palace Man City 3-1 Spurs

Man City 2-1 Liverpool Burnley 1-2 West Ham Luton 0-2 Palace Newcastle 2-1 Chelsea Forest 2-2 Brighton Sheff United 1-2 Bournemouth Brentford 2-2 Arsenal Spurs 2-1 Villa Everton 1-2 Man United Fulham 1-1 Wolves

Hope we switch to Gordon up top again. Seems we've opted for Joelinton due to a desire to go more direct (potentially fitness levels aren't high enough to play a pressing game for 90 minutes) but I don't think it's been a successful switch.

Wolves 1-2 Spurs Arsenal 3-0 Burnley Palace 2-0 Everton Man United 2-0 Luton Bournemouth 1-2 Newcastle Villa 3-1 Fulham Brighton 3-1 Sheff United Liverpool 2-1 Brentford West Ham 2-1 Forest Chelsea 1-3 Man City

Great to see Murphy back on the bench, no idea how he's made it back so quickly mind Curious to get the details on that

Fulham 1-2 Man Utd Brentford 2-2 West Ham Burnley 1-1 Palace Everton 1-2 Brighton Man City 3-0 Bournemouth Sheff Utd 1-1 Wolves Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal Forest 0-2 Villa Luton 0-3 Liverpool Spurs 3-1 Chelsea

To give Wilson the best chance of remaining fit, we should probably look to rotate the striker slot in any case. Our best bet IMO would probably be Gordon up top with Joelinton wide left. As much of a shame as it is to move Gordon away from the position where he has really flourished this season.

Palace 0-2 Spurs Chelsea 2-1 Brentford Arsenal 3-0 Sheff Utd Bournemouth 2-2 Burnley Wolves 0-2 Newcastle West Ham 2-0 Everton Villa 3-0 Luton Brighton 3-1 Fulham Liverpool 2-1 Forest Man Utd 1-2 Man City

Liverpool 2-0 Everton Bournemouth 1-1 Wolves Brentford 2-1 Burnley Man City 3-2 Brighton Newcastle 2-0 Palace Forest 2-0 Luton Chelsea 1-3 Arsenal Sheff United 0-2 Man United Villa 2-1 West Ham Spurs 2-0 Fulham

The "selling Bruno will help us with FFP" attitude is small-time and a little myopic IMO. Keeping your elite players and building a team around them is what really sends a message in terms of your level of ambition and also the prestige that you're able to build as a club over time. If we take the evolution of Man City as a case in point, the likes of Kompany, Silva and Aguero were integral to their development not only because of their quality but also due to their longevity and what that signified. Our job, at the very least, is to be highly unwilling sellers. And a £100m release clause doesn't really speak to that.

This clusterfuck of a Chelsea team really is the gift that keeps on giving

Luton 0-3 Spurs Burnley 1-2 Chelsea Everton 1-1 Bournemouth Fulham 2-0 Sheff United Man United 2-1 Brentford Palace 1-1 Forest Brighton 2-2 Liverpool West Ham 1-2 Newcastle Wolves 1-2 Villa Arsenal 1-3 Man City

Some absolutely class photos, here.

Maybe he could have just said "My focus is on the team & on football matters, and on everything related to that" or some other such generic answer. I don't remember the full context though. Next to nobody would seriously expect him to criticize Ashley.

I don't agree that selling players who have the potential to be the icons of the team over the next 5-10 years is a necessary part of our journey. Difficult to assess from the outside for anyone on a financial level, though. Nor is our current position in the game or overall trajectory and ambition comparable to Brighton, really, as much their approach has maximised their potential and rightfully won a lot of plaudits.

I agree. We aren't setting out to be Brighton, if there has to be a release clause it should at least be just shy of a "fuck off" price.